This October, journey with us as we slow down to recognize what God has been growing, receive the fruit of His faithfulness, and give thanks for the harvest.
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Prayer
God,
You know how easily my attention finds what's missing.
I notice the unfinished work, the unanswered questions, the things that didn't turn out as I hoped. Sometimes I can walk through a day filled with good things and still end it thinking about what went wrong.
Help me see my life more fully.
Give me room to grieve what is hard without overlooking what is good. Teach me to hold both honestly, trusting that Your presence is not dependent on everything going according to plan.
Amen.
Verse of the Day
Reflection
I don't think gratitude means pretending the hard things aren't hard.
Some things really are missing.
Some prayers are still unanswered. Some losses leave an ache that doesn't disappear just because we count our blessings. Some dreams need to be grieved rather than reframed.
We don't need to dress those things up... but we also don't want noticing what's missing to become the only thing we can see.
Paul wrote about learning contentment in circumstances that were not always comfortable or easy. He wasn't describing a life where every need had been met exactly as he hoped. He was learning to find his footing in God through changing seasons.
That feels important to remember.
We can be honest about what hurts and still notice what sustains us.
We can acknowledge disappointment and still receive a kindness.
We can wish something had turned out differently and still give thanks for the people, the beauty, the provision, or the strength that carried us through.
Perhaps the practice isn't to look away from what's missing.
Perhaps it's to widen our view enough to see what else is here.
Encouragement
Invitation
If today feels heavy, don't force yourself to find a silver lining.
Instead, ask a gentler question: What is helping me make it through this season?
Let that be enough for today.
From our Community of Creators...
Faith Over Fear: Walking Angie Home
We all long for purpose — to know our lives matter and our faith leaves a mark. For Angie, that purpose unfolded in the midst of unimaginable struggle. When she received a life-changing diagnosis in March 2017, her response was simple yet profound: Faith Over Fear. Through her journal entries and the reflections of her mother, sisters, and fiancé, this book shares Angie’s radiant spirit — her laughter, her grace, and her unshakable faith that pointed everyone back to God.
Faith Over Fear is more than Angie’s story — it’s an invitation to find blessings in the broken places, to notice the “God Things” woven through every trial, and to remember that even in heartbreak, we are never alone.
At Purpose + Grit, we’re creating a home where faith grows deeper, creativity is nurtured, and stories remind us we’re never alone.
This is a place to slow down, pay attention, make beautiful things, and remember that the ordinary pieces of our lives can become places where God meets us.
Thank you for being part of this little corner of the world—and for helping us make room for more faith, more creativity, and more honest stories along the way.
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Welcome to Purpose + Grit—a place to slow down, pay attention, and discover God in the ordinary rhythms of life. Here you'll find daily prayers, stories, creative inspiration, and thoughtful invitations to live a little more awake. Through Gritty Faith Magazine, The Practice, books, and the stories we share along the way, we make room for faith, creativity, wonder, and the beautifully imperfect work of being human. You don't have to be an artist or have it all figured out. You simply have to be willing to pull up a chair. Come stay awhile. There's room for you here. Sign up below for our free daily prayer emails.
